Yesterday was among the deadliest days of protest in Libya, with Al Jazeera reporting there may have been more than two hundred deaths on Monday alone. Government forces and militiamen beseiged the capitol, dropping small bombs from planes and firing live rounds at protestors. Early Tuesday morning, Libya’s state television showed Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, in a short appearance, dismissing rumos he had fled the country. Meanwhile, Libyan opposition leaders are calling upon the international community, particularly the United States, to take a stronger stance against the Gadhafi regime. Among those is Mohammed Ali Abdallah, the deputy secretary general of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya – one of the oldest and largest oppsition groups. We talk with Abdallah, who has been living in exile for 29 years, about the reactions he’s hearing from friends and family in the country.
We also hear from George Joffe, an expert on North Africa at Cambridge University.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!